Vapor compression cycle device with multi-component working fluid mixture and method of modulating its capacity

Abstract

A vapor compression cycle device is described which includes a multi-component working fluid mixture, condensing heat exchanger and an associated vapor-liquid separator connected to the compressor, a high-pressure liquid accumulator connected to the condenser and associated separator, a flow restricting device connected to the condenser and associated separator, an evaporating heat exchanger and associated low-pressure accumulator connected to the flow restricting device, and the evaporating heat exchanger and low-pressure accumulator connected to the compressor. A method is described also to modulating the capacity of such a device.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A method of modulating the capacity of a vapor compression cycle device which comprises compressing a multi-component working fluid mixture, condensing the mixture vapor, separating the vapor and liquid, storing the liquid under high pressure, condensing selectively the separated vapor and storing the condensed liquid under high pressure, controlling separately the flow rate of the stored condensed liquids, evaporating the liquid, storing the mixture under low pressure, and controlling the flow rate of compression by the density of the vapor of the mixture under low pressure. 
     
     
       2. A method of modulating the capacity of a vapor compression cycle device as in claim 1, in which the mixture is a multi-component fluoro-carbon working fluid. 
     
     
       3. A method of modulating the capacity of a vapor compressor cycle device which comprises compressing a multi-component working fluid mixture, circulating the mixture vapor to a condenser and an associated vapor-liquid separator, condensing the mixture vapor, circulating selectively the mixture vapor from the condenser and associated vapor-liquid separator to a high-pressure accumulator, condensing the mixture vapor and storing the condensed liquid in the high-pressure accumulator, controlling separately circulation of the mixture liquid from the condenser and associated separator and the accumulator to an evaporator and an associated low-pressure accumulator, maintaining the unevaporated mixture under low pressure, circulating the mixture from the evaporator and associated low-pressure accumulator to the compressor, and controlling the flow of the mixture to and through the compressor by the density of the vapor of the mixture under low pressure. 
     
     
       4. A method of modulating the capacity of a vapor compression cycle device which comprises compressing a multi-component working fluid mixture, circulating the mixture vapor to a condenser, condensing the mixture vapor, circulating the mixture vapor and liquid to a vapor-liquid separator, separating the vapor and liquid, circulating selectively the mixture vapor from the separator to a high-pressure accumulator, condensing the mixture vapor from the separator and storing the condensed liquid in the high-pressure accumulator, controlling separately the circulation of the mixture liquid from the separator and the accumulator to an evaporator and an associated low-pressure accumulator, maintaining the unevaporated mixture under low pressure, circulating the mixture from the evaporator and associated low-pressure accumulator to the compressor, and controlling the flow of the mixture to and through the compressor by the density of the vapor of the mixture under low pressure. 
     
     
       5. A vapor compression cycle device comprising a closed working fluid circuit, a multi-component working fluid mixture in the circuit, the closed working fluid circuit comprising a compressor, a condensing heat exchanger and associated vapor-liquid separator connected to the compressor, a high-pressure accumulator connected to the condenser and associated separator, a flow restricting device connected to the condenser and associated separator and to the high-pressure accumulator, an evaporating heat exchanger and associated low-pressure accumulator connected to the flow restricting device, and the evaporating heat exchanger and low-pressure accumulator connected to the compressor. 
     
     
       6. A vapor compression cycle device as in claim 5, in which the flow restricting device is controlled selectively in response to the evaporator temperature. 
     
     
       7. A vapor compression cycle device as in claim 5, in which the mixture is a multi-component fluoro-carbon working fluid. 
     
     
       8. A vapor compression cycle device as in claim 5, in which the flow restricting device is controlled selectively in response to the condensing temperature.